no Recollections of the Vine Hunt, 



continual change, which is very puzzling to hounds. 

 Moreover, the Craven was, in those days, much 

 more full of riot, especially of deer, in Savernake 

 Forest, — not herded together, as in a park, but getting 

 up singly, like wild animals, which would be sure to 

 bring into trouble any pack that was unaccustomed 

 to them. Nimrod speaks quite as strongly as I am 

 doing of the difficulties which hounds encounter in 

 this country : he terms it ' cheerless for hounds, 

 and distressing for horses.' Mr. Warde's huntsman 

 Neverd maintained that even the cold flinty hills 

 about Coombe and Netherton held a better scent 

 than most of his country north of the Kennet, and de- 

 clared that he could generally kill his fox if he could 

 get on good terms with him to the top of those hills. 

 An old member of the H.H., who was well qualified 

 to form an opinion, once told me that he should 

 class the four contiguous countries as more or less 

 favourable to hounds in the following order: ist, the 

 Hambledon ; 2nd, the Vine; 3rd, the H.H. ; 4th, the 

 Craven. The Craven, however, has many redeem- 

 ing advantages, especially social ones ; and as I my- 

 self have an old affection for it, and for many with 

 whom I hunted in it, I must observe that, the less 

 easy for hounds a country may be, the greater is the 

 praise due to those who have contrived, after all, to 

 show a great deal of sport in it. As it can very 

 seldom happen that two countries are thus tested by 

 an interchange of their respective packs, I thought it 

 might be interesting to sportsmen that I should record 

 the result of this experiment in 1837. Of my facts I 

 am certain, however I may be thought mistaken in 

 the causes which I assign for them. After one season. 



